Clashes in Anantnag as Geelani's rally bid foiled

Clashed erupted in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag town on Friday as police detained separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani while heading to lead a rally.

Geelani organised a separatist rally, which he was to address after the prayers in the town. But he was detained in the town's Lal Chowk area following Friday's congregational prayers.

Police and paramilitary personnel used teargas to disperse the stone-pelting crowd following his detention.

Reports said just as Geelani left for Anantnag from his uptown Srinagar residence, a posse of policemen took him under preventive custody to a Srinagar police station.

The Hurriyat leader alleged that state authorities were curbing his political space by frequent detentions.

State police, however, said the move was intended to ensure law and order situation.